I. ˈferlē adjective
Etymology: Middle English ferly, ferlich, from Old English fǣrlīc sudden, unexpected, from fǣr sudden danger or attack, calamity + -līc -ly — more at fear
now dialect : strange , surprising
a ferlie sight outside the door
II. noun
also fer·ly “
( plural ferlies )
Etymology: Middle English, from ferly, adjective
1. Scotland : a strange or unusual sight : wonder
2. Scotland : a freakish person or animal sometimes seen in hallucinations
when he was real drunk and the ferlies came sniftering out of the whiskey bottles at him — L.G.Gibbon
3. Scotland : news , gossip — usually used in plural
4. Scotland : surprise , amazement
III. verb
also ferly “
( ferlied ; ferlied ; ferlying ; ferlies )
Etymology: Middle English ferlien, from ferly, adjective
Scotland : wonder